Minnie Mortimer's California-Dreaming Collection

Last night, in the soon-to-be opened East Side Social Club in New York, designer Minnie Mortimer Gaghan presented her spring 2010 collection at an intimate dinner hosted by Olivia Palermo, Peter Davis, and Patrick McMullan. Filled with shots of bold color and bursts of rainbow prints, each ultra-wearable piece from the designer's second full collection will retail for less than $300. In contrast to her mostly grey and navy fall line, spring offers pops of juicy brights and beach-chic prints. Mortimer Gaghan explains, "I grew up in New York, dreaming of California. I was obsessed with `80s-surf culture—girls on roller skates with surfboards under their arms. As a kid, I imagined that if I lived in L.A., I'd be dating Zack Morris." Now a surfer living on the West Coast, Mortimer Gaghan made a quick stop into Topshop yesterday morning, coffee in hand, just as the store opened. She picked up a chunky gold-chain necklace, the perfect piece to top her turquoise print T-shirt dress (available the first week in February at Minniemortimer.com).